Global Kids

Many kids these days are into technology. It is the age they are growing up in. Many are like Nafiza and from the moment they wake up to the time they go to bed they are using technology in someway. When technology can be used to educate it is a good thing, such as how Nafiza is using technology to teach other children about important world issues. I do think kids these days are too into technology. When students are communicating through technology they become use to it and lose social skills. Such as a story my Aunt told about my cousin who had a friend over to his house and they were both on computers and just sitting there. She said the only noise she heard was the occasional laugh. Technology can widen their understanding about the world, but it can also make them shut out the world. It is important to find a balance.

Geo-Literacy

What - Students came up with their own projects and did their own research. They were involved in history, becoming local historians. 3D images created by pictures they took.

So What - Students can taste the joy of life-long learning.

Now What - Students are able to connect with other students to learn more from each other. They create a website to publish their findings.

Geocaching

Geocaching is a fun way for students to learn and exercise at the same time. They are able to go on hunts for caches that are left with items from the last person who found it. It is very exciting and gets students involved.

Educational Board Games

Putting together my board game this week I have come to see the importance of having good educational games in the classroom. Students will become engaged having fun and learning at the same time. I could see myself using educational board games as a way to reward students for their hard work and also have them continue learning. It's awesome! Plus you learn more by doing, which is what these games allow for. They are especially helpful when students do not especially enjoy a particular subject, such as math. When they are playing a game that incorporates math they have more incentive to do the math.

All-in-all, educational board games rock!

Physical Education and Technology

4 new ideas:
1. Physical Education has many advancements in technology coming out to help people live healthier lifestyles.
2. 10,000 steps a day can help you stay healthy and lose weight
3. The activity that was done with the pedometer where they measured the man's stride can be used in math class. We can find each students stride then have students discover how many steps they would take to walk a mile, and so forth.
4. Having students do activities like the above will show them that being healthy is important!

1 thing I already knew:
1. Teaching students to be healthy is important.

1 call to action
1. Go get a pedometer and use it to motivate your daily exercise. I know I want to get one! And getting one will help me become familiar with how they work so that I will be able to bring them into my classroom.

4-1-1 on this class

4 new ideas

• I have really learned some new ways to use technology in the classroom. Our TIPP website, what a great resource to make for students to use! Although I would have a lot less "stuff" on it than everything we need for our project, it's just too much.
• Discovering google docs was awesome! It was a great resource to use the class Shannae was sick, we were able to be on our google doc at the same time and get a lot done!
• Photostory 3 is a neat program. I know it will come in handy the next time I want to make a video.
• Google sites is a great resource to create a website for my future classes. It's a good place to keep class information at that will be easy for students and parents to find.
  

1 thing I already knew

• Students today are living in a technology world. It is all around them. Teachers need to make use of the technology around them.

1 call to action

• All teachers should incorporate technology into their teaching. Students work best when they have differentiated instruction, and technology is one tool that will help with this very much. Teachers should also keep themselves knowledgeable about the new technology that is available to them and to use in the classroom to help their students learning process.
  

Assessment

The activity we did in class was very interesting. It was hard for those who were students to understand why their balloons were being popped. Not knowing the criteria for a balloon being accepted really put them at a disadvantage. In regards to the difference between grades and assessments, when you assess a student you are looking to see what they know and what they are capable of complete, grades on the other hand are given after an assessment when needed and also are a way to show a students ability, they are just not as specific as looking at the actual assessment. Grades show to parents and students where they are at in the class and assessment shows more specifically what areas the student needs to work on. Many evaluation tools can be used to reach students, I believe having assignments for students to complete and turn in is a great way to make sure they are prepared before a test. Tests are helpful to have at the end of a unit to evaluate what the students have learned.

Students Today

Both videos for this week showed how advance students have become and what they expect to receive from their education. The first one was cute, but really showed how children are becoming advanced when it comes to technology. The boy on the second one is an amazing motivational speaker. I have seen this video a few times, and love it every time I watch it. He really challenges teachers to step it up and give their students what they deserve, to believe in what they students will become. We are preparing them for jobs that do not exist at this time, it is our duty to teach them well. Using technology is important because it teaches important skills that are needed today and in the future that weren't used in the past. It is important that education evolves alongside technology.

After School Matters

http://www.edutopia.org/pursuing-passions-after-school

This video is about pursuing passions after school. It is important for students to find what they love to do and have opportunities to do it. Being in an after school program helps students develop educationally, and helps them stay out of trouble. It also shows students the possibilities they have with their education and for their future. These are typical students who are able to find what interests them and then develop a talent in it. It is great when the talent involves technology, and also when it doesn't. Students are doing what they enjoy doing, and those needs are being met. The difficulties with after school programs are funds, finding qualified teachers, and also students having time for after school programs.

Wiz Kid

http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-cameron-video

WOW
I was surprised to see a student so interesting in technology. I think it is great that he found what interested him and than used it to enhance his learning. Also that he tries new things and learns new things on his own. It was pretty cool to see him video taping his hockey playing to help him improve his technique.

Wonder
I wonder what first got him interesting in technology. And how much does it cost to provide him with the tools he needs. I also wonder what the other students in his classes think of him, from the video he seemed like a teacher's pet. And another thing, how does he have time for it all. School, homework, video making, hockey, guitar, video games, friends, and family life are a lot to juggle.

Rainforest School/School of Mines

http://www.edutopia.org/las-vegas-environments

I found this video fascinating. Having a rainforest inside the school is so neat. Students are able to learn hands-on by experience what it is like in the rainforest. Teachers are able to utilize the space to direct their teaching. I was thinking that if I was a teacher in that school I would be spending my break time in that room, how relaxing it would be. The mine was also neat. I remember going on a field trip in Elementary School were I was able to pan for gold and such. It is neat when students are able to work hands-on. It's also neat that each exhibit was able to be built because of the support of the community. I wondering if they live in a high socioeconomic area.

4-H Goes Digital

http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-tech-wizards-video

The above video discusses the 4-H after school program. I did not know much about this program before watching the video therefore I was not surprised to see how it has evolved from it's agricultural focus to it's technology focus. I believe this change is a natural extension, back when it first began agricultural tools were the upcoming thing, which now a days has evolved into new technology. It is important to have mentoring in the program so all will be able to get the best out of it that they can. The impact this program has on students is the ability to show them how learning effects them and their future. This is a very beneficial program to the community preparing students for the job force.

More Google Sites and Group Projects

This week we continued with the google sites and also created our groups for the group project. In our group we decided on our project topics. My group is creating a author study webpage for students to learn about their favorite authors and complete a hands-on activity after. I am excited to create this project and learn more about using technology in the classroom as I do so.

Also, this week on our own google pages we worked on finding science resources. I was able to find some great resources that I will use when I am a teacher.

Google Sites and Blogs

This blog creation was inspired by the google site I have set up. I now have a link posted on both my google site and my blog for viewers to examine both.

http://sites.google.com/site/teachingfortoday/home

This was the first time I've made a google site. I have already begun to think about the purpose of using education as a teacher, and can see how doing so can be very beneficial. Knowing how to make a site will give me the opportunity to make one for my future class that my students and their parents can refer to to review the learning that has been going on in class. It is a great way to involve parents and help students remember what has been learned.

Making the site was familiar with the process of designing the old online portfolio I had in Taskstream. Having the google site layout familiar to it was helpful to keep me from getting confused and lost.

Introduction

This blog is to be used for my TEL313: Educational Technology in K-12 Curriculum. I am currently a Junior at Arizona State Universtiy's College of Teacher Education and Leadership. I hope to use this blog to organize resources for my future classroom and reflect on what I have learned as I prepare to become an educator.